Dennis Four Ball - New Born Experience

Sept 14-15: This was a special year for multiple reasons: 1) Mike's newborn daughter, Lindsey, would be with us for the first time; 2) Mike's in-laws would be hosting us in their newly renovated home (wasn't complete last year); and 3) We would see how Mike's game would hold up as a father!

We had another weekend of spectacular weather; sunny and high 60s both days.  The first day we got a late starting time, 12:40pm; allowed us a full morning of beach with the dogs, breakfast at home (Murph scrambled eggs and thomas's english muffin), and relaxation. Our starting time was surrounded by two Mass Am championship, a 2012 Round of 16 US Amateur competitor who beat Harris English, and many other accomplished players.  Gets me fired up!  We opened with a 2 under par 69.  Birdies at #2, #8, #13, and #18.  Bogeys at #4 and #11.  Mike got at the par-5s with 3 birdies.  Overall, we played well, just couldn't get many putts to drop.  63 was low score of the day.

At night, after a great dinner from Lost Dog, we were treated to a free fireworks show at the house.  Some wealthy family ran a fireworks show off a barge for their daughter's wedding.  It was as good as the fourth of July in Boston, no joke!  15 minutes of cracks and pops, one after another.  I tried to make it late with Mike watching golf, football, and airplane repo and keeping an eye on Lindsey, but I crashed and left Mike with his hands full for the evening.  Estimated sleep time for Mike +/- 5 hours total, not straight through.  Got a taste of newborn parenthood, its a hand full and exciting.

Round 2: Another afternoon tee off; more beach! more breakfast, this time at Grumpy's, our favorite muffins and great breakfast food all around.  We were in the Top 10 with a goal to catch third place score of 66.  Also a nice treat was that we got paired with friends V. Galvani and D. Marseglia (fellow Bentley alum).  We shot 71 with birdies at #5, #8, #10, #15. Bogies at #6, #7, #12, and #17.  I don't think we played as well individually; as our drivers were astray.  Maybe some fatigue.  On a course like Dennis Highlands (ability to spray tee shots) and the quality of field, you really have to bring your highest confidence on the greens.  Trusting the rhythm of the putting stroke and being aggressive, knowing if you run a birdie putt by, you will make the comeback putt.  I never got that feel over the two days.

My most memorable moments were my trouble shots.  On #10, I hit a blind knock down 8 iron from 125 yards that landed inches from the cup and rolled to the back of green.  I had to clear an opening that was high enough to fly one tree and low enough to avoid another.  Then, on #12, my drive was a few inches from the main roadway coming into the club; I was nervous about gouging my club.  After committing to the shot, I got a wedge behind the ball without hitting the pavement, cleared the trees, and landed on the green to save an unlikely par.  Mike dominated #8 (par 5), putting it greenside in two both times and doubling up on birdies.

Oh and Mike still has game!  Beautiful short game to watch.

I recommend this tournament to any amateur players looking for a good four ball weekend.  This weekend keeps getting better (how come our scores aren't?)

To new life,
Flio

67

August 30 - On the 18th green at Lexington Golf Club with my good pal C.Barry at approximately 1030am, 3.5 hours after tee off.  I lined up a 20 foot birdie putt.  The read was uphill about a ball outside the right side of cup (back middle pin).  I looked at Chris and told him I needed this to set my new career low at LGC.  The amount of seconds it took me to pull back the putter was longer than any other putt that day.  The putt rolled with good speed, hit the break, and dropped in with about six inches of steam left in it!!  Slight fist pump and yes!  67!!  5 birdies and 1 bogey :)

It felt effortless.  I did make a few up and downs from the greenside rough or bunkers, however, I had putter in hand for birdies on 15 of the 18 holes.  I birdied #2, #7, #13, #16, and #18 and bogeyed #4 (3 putt). My nines were 34-33.  32 total putts.  It didn't feel lucky, it didn't feel like oh man I could have made this or that to shoot a few longer, it felt like this is how I can play around this course often.

We teed off bright and early, 715am on the first tee.  The weather conditions were fairly calm, starting to feel the fall air, reached the 70s by the end of the round.

Setting a new bar for myself is satisfying.  I will relish this score for a while.

Savor something in your life today for a minute (even if its just chewing that yummy steak a little slower)

Kurt

Mid Amateurs in the Berkshires

August 26-27: I planned back to back tournaments in Western Massachusetts.  My decision was two fold: 1) To make a mini-vacation to a part of the state I've always wanted to visit and 2) The dates were the same as the Tarlow Invitational, so I thought maybe the field would be weaker (no such thing anymore).  On Monday, I competed in the U.S. Mid Amateur Qualifier at Berkshire Hills CC in Pittsfield, MA.  On Tuesday, I played in the Mass Mid Amateur Qualifier at Twin Hills GC in Longmeadow, MA.  We had good weather both days in the 70s, mixed between cloudy and sunny.

I had never seen either course prior to play, with the exception for a brief stop at Twin Hills on the ride out; only using their putting green and getting a glimpse of the holes near the clubhouse.  Both golf courses were very nice.  Berkshire Hills is a solid AW Tillinghast design with many elevation changes, undulating greens, and close to 6,800 yards.  I found the greens very difficult to read and putts did not break.  Tee shot placement was critical on many holes and almost all the FIVE par-5s were reachable which was fun.  Be careful on the par-5 15th tee shot; all you need is a 240-250 shot down the right center before a hazard and then you can go for it.  Twin Hills is a fairly flat golf course with excellent greens, tree lined fairways, and challenging par-3s.  I found these greens to run very true to speed and break.  Loved the pace and condition of greens; it was soft after a night of rain.  Membership here is strong; waiting list in place and ongoing $4 million renovation to clubhouse.

Berkshire Hills CC

Both days my ball striking was very good, but I couldn't capitalize on any birdie putts.  At Berkshire (pics to right), I hit 11 of my first 13 greens and was 4 over.  I had 5 three putts and 39 overall putts to shoot 81.  I really was on the brink of a good round, but didn't take advantage of the par-5s.  At Twin Hills, it was more of the same and I shot 79.  I had only 1 three putt and 35 putts overall to shoot 79.  No birdies over 36 holes and a missed cut.

Best moments: Striping driver off the first tee both days, 300 yards and splitting the fairway like I was in a mid-round groove.  Hitting the green from the woods on the par-4 16th, #1 handicap hole.  I had to hit a high draw over trees from 170 yards from the right rough.  I was looking at 8-iron to get the height and my Dad talked me into the 7-iron.  Hit a beautiful shot and two putted for par.  Making up and down on my final hole (#9) at Twin Hills after hitting my purest iron shot of the week, 5-iron flew right over the pin from 200 yards and bounced over the green 20 yards.  My flop shot caught the lip of the hole and I made a 6 foot putt to save par.

Cranwell Resort

My Dad was with me on the bag both days.  We stayed at Cranwell (pic to right) in Lenox.  Very clean, classy, quiet resort with a solid spa (had my first steam room experience), chipping/putting area near rooms, and decent food.  Found a solid breakfast bagel in Pittsfield called BagelsToo and Joe's Diner in Lenox.  Also, would recommend a stop at Guido's Marketplace in Pittsfield if you are into Whole Foods like supermarket.


Despite missing the cuts, I left feeling really good about my game. I finished on a high note.  Grateful for each experience, especially with my Dad.

The road to improvement is always under construction,
Kurt

Me at Berkshire Hills CC